Fairfield High School for Girls
102%
Capacity
991
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Fairfield High School for Girls
Fairfield High School for Girls is a girls' secondary in Tameside that is currently oversubscribed, with 448 applications for 194 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.31. Of those applications, 215 were first-preference choices, and 173 first-preference offers were made, indicating strong local demand. The school operates at slightly above its official capacity of 975, with 991 pupils on roll. Its free school meal rate of 33.4% is notably higher than the national average, reflecting a diverse intake with significant socioeconomic need. The school has no religious character and does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. The headteacher is Fiona Lealman, who has been in post since at least the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022.
Academically, Fairfield performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of +0.55 is classified as 'Well above average' nationally, placing it 2nd out of 16 schools in Tameside and in the top 25% of schools across the North West. This compares very favourably with the Tameside LA average Progress 8 of -0.19. The Attainment 8 score is 55.3, and 79.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 65.4% achieving grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 5.03, with 66% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, with an Outstanding rating for quality of education. Behaviour, personal development, and leadership were all rated Good, a change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2013.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, art studios, and a library. Sports provision includes netball, hockey, rowing, cricket, and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs range from Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to gardening and eco club. SEND support is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering Fairfield, the data suggests a high-performing, inclusive school that is popular locally and delivers strong academic progress, particularly for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, though its oversubscribed status means a first-preference application is advisable.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Fairfield Avenue, Manchester, Tameside, M43 6AB |
| Headteacher | Fiona Lealman |
| Local Authority | Tameside |
| Number of Pupils | 991 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.4% |
| School Capacity | 991 / 975 (102% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Dec 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 31 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.55)
443rd of 3,141
Nationally
44th of 445
In North West
2nd of 16
In Tameside
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 196 pupils).
- Sixth form college54%
- FE college31%
- Employment5%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship2%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed194
448
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
215 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:15 – 14:45
Breakfast club
07:30-08:15
Source: fairfieldhighschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British46.8%
- Asian37.2%
- Mixed5.8%
- White (other)1.9%
- Black1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
16
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
13
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fairfield High School for Girls
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Fairfield Avenue, Manchester
Tameside, M43 6AB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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